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Talihina woman drives 40+ miles to buy fresh groceries for the community

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Updated: 7:40 AM CST Feb 26, 2020

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ORDER TO GET FRESH PRODUCE? WE SPOKE WITH A WOMAN WHO DRIVES TO FORT SMITH EVERY WEEK TO PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE FROM THIS WALMART. AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT FIRE WAS ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL BECAUSE IT DESTROYED THE ONLY GROCERY STORE IN TALIHINA. FRANCES WILLIAMS SAYS SHE DRIVES TO FORT SMITH OR POTEAU ONCE A WEEK TO PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SHE SAYS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HELPING IN ANYWAY THEY CAN. "So different people have said if you can bring in the groceries and put them somewhere we will do the driving somewhere. And those people were some people that weren't getting out of the house very much and now they say we have time, we don't have a job and we can help you with that." WILLIAMS SAYS IF THE GROCERY STORE DOES NOT GET REBUILT, SHE'S WORRIED PEOPLE WILL MOVE OUT OF TALIHINA. BUT IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS SHE SAYS THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY COME TOGETHER AFTER THE FIR

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Talihina woman drives 40+ miles to buy fresh groceries for the community

On Christmas morning the community of Talihina woke up to the Valley Super Foods grocery store on fire. That fire was especially impactful because it destroyed the only grocery store in Talihina.4029 News spoke with a woman who drives to Fort Smith or Poteau every week to purchase fresh produce for the community. She says the community members are helping in any way they can when it comes to grocery shopping. “So different people have told me if I can put the somewhere they will do the driving. And those people were some people that weren’t getting out of the house very much and now they say, ‘we have time, we don’t have a job and we can help you with that,’” said Frances Williams. Williams says she buys fresh produce for up to 100 people that can’t drive themselves. Williams said she’s worried people will move away from Talihina if the grocery store does not get rebuilt. For now, people are relying on the dollar store and a local diner called Treats and Treasures that also sells fresh produce. “Everyone’s really, really come together. We realized we all need to help each other at times,” said Williams.

TALIHINA, Okla. —

On Christmas morning the community of Talihina woke up to the Valley Super Foods grocery store on fire.

That fire was especially impactful because it destroyed the only grocery store in Talihina.

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4029 News spoke with a woman who drives to Fort Smith or Poteau every week to purchase fresh produce for the community. She says the community members are helping in any way they can when it comes to grocery shopping.

“So different people have told me if I can put the [groceries] somewhere they will do the driving. And those people were some people that weren’t getting out of the house very much and now they say, ‘we have time, we don’t have a job and we can help you with that,’” said Frances Williams.

Williams says she buys fresh produce for up to 100 people that can’t drive themselves.

Williams said she’s worried people will move away from Talihina if the grocery store does not get rebuilt.

For now, people are relying on the dollar store and a local diner called Treats and Treasures that also sells fresh produce.

“Everyone’s really, really come together. We realized we all need to help each other at times,” said Williams.